The final score was only 1-0 , but the distance between the defending champions and the lesser half of the Derby Angelino was still evident Sunday night. Even with a relatively lackluster effort, the Galaxy were able to take full points from Chivas USA, leaving the Goats with four wins in 27 all-time regular season meeting between the two rumored rivals. In all competitions, it was the team’s 30th meeting, with the Galaxy claiming 19 wins.

Excuse that patronizing “rumored” crack, but as Chivas fans are fully aware, this hasn’t been much of a rivalry in any respect. Not only have the Galaxy won the battles on the field, they dominate the market to an extent that Chivas end up feeling like visitors in their own home. And in terms of how the organizations are run, while the Galaxy are one of Major League Soccer’s model (and highest valued) franchises, there’s been regular talk this season as to how long Chivas USA will still be a thing.

Beyond Sunday’s result, two other small occurrences served our bothersome reminders of that morose reality.

The first came from a former Goat on Twitter, with one of the franchise’s better known alums expressing disappointment that the atmosphere he remembered from LA’s intra-city derbies had diminished into what he saw Sunday night.

Then consider this, as relayed by The Goat Parade. Organized on Reddit, a subset of Chivas supporters raised enough money to fly a protest banner over the stadium during Sunday’s match, lengths the Black Army 1850 has had to go to because of increased scrutiny of supporters groups’ signage around StubHub. Trailing the plane as it flew overhead, the message read “FUERA VERGARA! #VERGARA OUT”.

Such is the state of Chivas USA. Whereas teams across the country look to their Atlantic, Rocky Mountain, and Cascadia Cup derbies as highlights, fans of LA’s wayward franchise see it as a platform for dissent. No better time to bring attention to their plight than during the league’s not-so-SuperClasico.

This wasn’t a Chivas fan protest. This was an MLS fan protest. The 13.5k-subscriber r/mls subreddit came up with the idea and the vast majority of funding came from non-Chivas fans. BA1850 was formally contacted only after the fundraising was put in motion to get their blessing (so as to make their voices heard) and to help come up with the message.

This small difference is worth mentioning as it’s one thing to complain about your own team but it’s quite another when the rest of the league feels the need to protest what they feel is a threat to their league’s stability and reputation.

(The other small difference is that the protest was actually an LED scrolling sign across the bottom of the plane’s wing, not a trailed sign.)

It’s heartening every time I see a story that seems to forecast the imminent demise of this ill-advised franchise. As an American soccer fan, I just think it’s insulting (not to mention probably illegal) that Chivas USA insists on firing employees not of Mexican descent and creating what they seem to view as a minor league feeder team in our league. If you want to create an MLS team that appeals to Mexicans, go for it! But calling it “Chivas USA” and running it in an ethically questionable manner should get you pushed-out, rebranded and moved.